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by caitlin andrewS

The Global Problem of Poaching South Africa’s Rhinos & the Asian Market

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The whir of helicopter blades and the rumble of chainsaws are not the sounds one imagines when one thinks of a South African savanna. Yet, all too frequently in the South Africa—and other African countries—of today, these are the sounds which define the landscape. If the country’s distinctive baobabs or forest trees were the target, then it would be tragic enough, but these are the sounds of rhino poaching. Though South Africa saw a decline in poaching through the 1990s, poaching has been steadily rising over the past decade, contributing to the $20 billion worldwide industry that is the illegal wildlife trade (1). With 668 rhinos killed in 2012—up 50% from 2011—most rhino species are now criti-cally endangered, as individuals are left maimed and most often fatally injured when their horns are poached for sale on the black market (2). All the while, the South African govern-ment’s attempts to save one of the most iconic species in the world are largely foundering as they are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of poachings. The problem is now beyond a mere national concern; it is a global issue linking biodiversity and public policy. The driving force behind it all is a growing economy halfway around the world in China and lingering beliefs in the healing powers of rhino horns in traditional Asian medicine (1).

Traditional Asian Medicine – The Demand for Rhino Horns

Rhino horns are made of keratin—a structural protein so ubiquitous that it is found in human hair, fingernails, and skin (3). Yet, a single kilogram of rhino horn can sell for $50,000—about the same price as a kilogram of gold (1). At the root of this conundrum is a repeated pattern of unsup-ported—and, in some cases, disproven—hypotheses. Along with other ingredients derived from exotic animals from tigers to bears, rhino horns have been an accepted ingredient in Asian medicine for over 2,000 years, purported to relieve everything from fever to hemorrhage and from infection to gout (1, 4). In China, these beliefs stem from the earliest texts on herbal medicine and have been passed through the millennia (1). However, with advances in modern technol-

ogy, scientists have been able to more accurately test these hypotheses in controlled laboratory settings. The conflicting data that has resulted from these studies has only lent itself to one conclusion—that the medicinal worth of horns is, at best, inconclusive (4, 5). One might think that as Southeast Asian countries have become more economically developed, they might have adopted a more “Western” view—which, for all intents and purposes, would reject the use of primitive ingredients de-rived from exotic animals. In part, this appears to be the case. China banned the sale of rhino products in 1993, and the government has made an active effort to punish those caught smuggling rhino products across the border. Additionally, Chinese officials have worked to promote the use of cheaper, more effective alternatives to rhino horn and other medicines derived from exotic animals (1). These efforts to curtail a market in China for rhino prod-ucts have been largely superficial. Despite seizures of these products at the border, China has done little to combat the trade within the country (1). Furthermore, as the Chinese economy continues to grow, increased affluence means that more people are able to afford expensive treatments, and instead of turning toward the alternatives that modern medicine have brought them, many are opting for the more expensive—and illegal—traditional medicines. To complicate matters further, in 2009, a Vietnamese official was reported to have been cured of liver cancer by a treatment includ-ing rhino horn powder. Though official representatives of traditional Asian medicine now deny these claims—and there is no previous evidence of a connection between rhino horns and cancer treatment—this rumor has only acted to further stimulate the demand for rhino horns (3, 6).

South Africa’s Poaching Problems and Efforts

Home to over 75% of Africa’s approximately 25,000 rhinos, South Africa is a region which continues to struggle with the poaching problem despite its efforts to change (8, 9). Since 2006, 95% of all rhino deaths have occurred in

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

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Zimbabwe and South Africa; of those, the majority have been shot by poachers on foot or in helicopters while others have been trapped in snares or attacked with chainsaws destined for illegal export to Asia (9, 1). Just as China has enacted legislation aimed at their end of the trade, South Africa has also taken legal steps to protect its rhino population. In 2008, the “Threatened or Protected Species regu-lations” were enacted requiring individuals wishing to hunt rhinos or harvest their horns to purchase a permit. However, there have been very few successful prosecutions, and these laws have not been consistently enforced across the provinces (9). Addition-ally, the recovery of rhino horns by officials has decreased from 68% in 2001 to less than 8% in 2009, all while poaching rates have increased—suggesting that South Africa’s law enforcement is becoming overwhelmed by the problem (9) Meanwhile, the problem is being approached from other angles. The National Biodiversity Investigators Forum was estab-lished in 2009 to specifically focus on the investigation of rhino crimes, and there has been increased investment in conservation efforts, sanctuary development, and snare removal (9). Scientists have also investigated and begun to implement more unconven-tional measures. The Rhino Rescue Project is one such orga-nization looking to deter poachers by making rhino horns less appealing. In their current research, they are exploring the pos-sibility of treating rhino horns with ectoparasiticides—pesticides aimed at parasites such as ticks; since ectoparasiticides are toxic—but not lethal in small quantities—to humans, ingestion of horns from treated rhinos will result in severe side effects. By marking treated horns with a dye, the researchers not only provide a way of warning poachers that these horns are toxic and should be left alone but also allow airport security to detect dyed horns, as the dye can be detected with X-ray scanners (10). While scientists and legislators work to find new solutions to the poaching problems, some find that, at present, there is little hope of prevention. Some organizations have begun inserting microchips into rhino horns and taking DNA samples from rhi-nos so that the rhino horns that do inevitably make it to the black market can be traced back to the source (11). Perhaps the most desperate of measures, others have decided that dehorning rhi-nos before poachers can get to them is the only hope of peace-ful lives for the animals. Horns may be important for attracting mates and fending off predators, but rhinos are able to survive

without them. However, because the horns do regrow, dehorning is a costly measure and must be repeated every one to two years to be most effective. Additionally, the sad truth is that, in the end, even this may not protect rhinos as poachers may still go after the small stub of a horn that is left after dehorning (12).

A Grim Future While the noble efforts of scientists and organizations may be helping in certain cases, there has been no reversal of the up-ward trend of rhino poaching. South African efforts continue to struggle to keep up with the increased poachings, and in some places violence has erupted between people (11). When one looks at the strength of the demand for horns in China, it is clear that the battle to end poaching is going to be long and difficult. In addition to importing rhino horns, China has also been importing live rhinos from South Africa—121 rhinos from 2006 to 2009 alone. Although officials initially denied accusations that there were any plans to farm rhinos for their horns, TIME Magazine exposed an entirely different story in 2011. The same Chinese officials who had defended China against accusations only a year earlier have since changed their stories, now denying that they had ever said that rhino farming was not in China’s plans (6). The consequence is that it is now easier than ever for the Chinese to poach rhino horns, directly from the source and within their own borders. And although farming rhino horns does not necessitate permanent harm to the animals, the lives of these rhinos will be far from natural, and it is unlikely that farming will make a dent in the illegal importation of rhino products from abroad (11, 13). There is also a theory circulating that China may be stockpiling rhino horns in anticipation of the extinction of the animal. Referred to by some as “investing in extinction,” this theory is based on the idea that hunting a species toward or to extinction decreases supply and increases demand, driving up prices and making the market more economically beneficial. Although this theory has not been proven in the case of rhinos, there is evidence that Chinese tiger farms have acted similarly with tigers (8). And if the same is true for rhinos, then the future for the animal has never looked grimmer.

Spotlight on Success: West Bengal, India The poaching problem is not unique to South Africa—or even

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the African continent. Asian rhinos have also been the targets of poaching, and alternative strategies have been used in differ-ent countries to try to eliminate poaching. West Bengal, India once struggled with rampant poaching as well but has seen an entirely different trajectory of change. Since 1990, rhino popu-lations have been on the rise. Through increased government investment in staffing protected areas, poaching levels have fallen dramatically. However, money is not the only ingredient in successful conservation, and West Bengal has learned and acted upon this alternative approach. Many locals living in villages around national parks live in poverty, which may lead some to collabo-rate with poachers. The government has worked to improve its relations with villagers and has also trained many local to work in eco-tourism—another positive influence in the anti-poaching movement, as the constant presence of visitors and others deters poachers and makes it more difficult for them to act without being seen. Through rhino awareness programs, the government has also worked to educate locals about the importance of pro-tecting rhinos; not only do rhinos help the economy by attracting tourists, but they are also an important part of the ecosystem and a representative of the great biodiversity that must be conserved within India (14). A Worthwhile Cause By following the examples of those countries that have had success—such as India—South Africa and other nations strug-gling with the poaching problem can hopefully come to a turning point at which they begin to have success of their own. South Af-rica must continue to enforce and expand its anti-poaching laws, all while continuing to protect living rhinos and prevent rhino horns from being smuggled out of the country. Investment in anti-poaching efforts must be universal and exhaustive in order to bring poaching to an end and help rhino populations recover. However, the other side of the trade must not be forgotten and is perhaps even more important to address. If the deeply-ingrained cultural beliefs of traditional Asian medicine are not changed, then demand is unlikely to come down. In this case, education is the key to success and perhaps the only hope for changing minds and teaching people that there are more effec-tive and humane technologies available for treating illnesses than using rhino horns. In order to eliminate motivation for poach-

ers, demand must first decrease, which can only be achieved by getting to the root of the problem in traditional Asian medicine beliefs. At the start of the 20th century, there were 500,000 rhinos worldwide. Today, there are fewer than 30,000 (12). If South Africa, China, and other nations do not carry out the necessary measures of public policy needed to save the rhino species, then extinction will be nearly—if not certainly—inevitable. Losing rhinos would not only represent a tremendous failure in con-servation policy, but it would also signify an irreparable blow to biodiversity worldwide. As one of Africa’s most iconic species, rhinos are vital members of an ecosystem that is already fragile and vulnerable. Without them, the African landscape would be forever changed and scarred by the reminder that our shortcom-ings led to their demise.

Caitlin Andrews is a freshman in Grays. References1. D. Graham-Rowe, Biodiversity: Endangered and In Demand, Nature (2011). 2. M. McGrath, "Rhino Poaching in South Africa Reaches Record Levels", BBC News (10 Jan. 2013).3. P. Viscardi, "The Horns of a Dilemma", NatSCA News 22 (2012): 8-13.4. H. P. Laburn, D. Mitchell, Extracts of rhinoceros horn are not antipyretic in rabbits, Journal of Basic & Clinical Physiology & Pharmacology 8.1-2 (1997), pp. 1-11.5. P. P. But, Y. Tam, L. Lun, Ethnopharmacology of Rhinoceros Horn, Journal of Ethno-pharmaculogy 33 (1991): pp. 45-50.6. H. Beech, "Killing Fields: Africa's Rhinos Under Threat”, TIME (13 June 2011). 8. African Rhino Programme. (World Wildlife Fund South Africa, 2013). 9. T. Milliken, R. Emslie, B. Talukdar, African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conser-vation and Trade, IUCN Species Survival Commission (2009).10. About the Project. (Rhino Rescue Project, 2013) <http://www.rhinorescueproject.com/>.11. M. Frank, J. Hopper, "Spike in Rhino Poaching Threatens Survival of Species", NBC News (21 Feb. 2012).12. Rhino Info. (Save the Rhino) <http://www.savetherhino.org>.13. R. Dewsbury, "Farming rhinos and legalising sale of their horns worth more than gold 'will save them from extinction', claims farmer”, DailyMail.co.uk. (30 Aug. 2012).14. E. Martin, L. Vigne, Successful rhino conservation continues in West Bengal, India, Pachyderm 51 (2012): pp. 27-37.